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The content of the mural clearly reflects his inner world.
As a child, Mochizuki Oboro was no different from other kids her age, envying her peers who had more and newer toys, and many of her expressions and mannerisms were quite amusing.
Transforming into a photography master, Aika Sajou hurriedly took out her camera and snapped away, capturing the moment with a series of photos. Even unsure if she could take the footage from the television world with her, she was determined to take pictures first.
Eri was in charge of the murals after she entered high school.
After entering Finis Academy, the two could no longer easily go to and from school together or chat as before; the physical distance between them increased considerably. As a result, some murals with content that Erise had never heard of appeared on the walls.
"So you do have moments like a normal person too." Eri looked up and uttered a brief sigh.
……
"Some people become the focus of the world because of their appearance, some stand at the top of the times because of their talent, and some have a glorious and illustrious family background. From the very beginning, this game called 'life' has been unfair."
"The finish line that ordinary people struggle to reach in their entire lives may only be the starting point for a small number of people. There is only one reason for this difference: luck. The biggest watershed in life is the amniotic fluid."
Sitting in a white armchair with his back to everyone, Mochizuki Oboro spoke calmly.
Although this game amplified his hidden jealousy, there's no smoke without fire; his gloomy emotions had already taken root before they were magnified.
“We’ve seen all the murals.” Eri stepped forward.
If this were a game, everyone should have buffs that could negate Mochizuki Oboro's buff.
"What are your thoughts?" Mochizuki Oboro turned around, a smile on her face. "Isn't it ugly?"
Longing is the emotion furthest from understanding.
Having witnessed her own ugliness firsthand, Mochizuki Oboro believed that some of the people present must have felt their illusions crumble, and it was only natural that they would feel disgust and disdain.
Charlemagne's athletic talent, Moriarty's predictive abilities, Arjuna's family background... these were all things he envied but could never obtain.
When looking up at the backs of others, the shadows cast on one's own face are often more glaring than the sunlight.
“It’s not ugly,” Typhon encouraged. “When you see outstanding people around you, everyone will feel a sense of inferiority to some extent, which is a normal phenomenon. For example, I envy Erise.”
"Me?" Eri pointed a finger. "What do I have to envy?"
Ti Fong gave him a "What do you think?" look: "Of course it's the time we spent together. All of us combined can't even match a fraction of what you've done."
Using self-destruction as a way to persuade Mochizuki Oboro was the only effective method that Tsutsumi Yutaka could think of.
Simply spouting empty platitudes will only backfire; empathy and genuine understanding are the shortcut to connecting hearts.
“My senior envies Karna’s features, and I’m just as jealous of my sisters’ achievements.” Caster, acting as the second suicide infantryman, shook his head: “No one is perfect.”
Normally, the constant stream of encouraging words would be enough to warm one's heart and move one to tears. But this place is a palace where only one kind of emotion exists.
After patiently waiting for everyone to finish speaking, Mochizuki Oboro slowly drew her sword.
"I'm sorry, but it's like talking to a brick wall. I wasn't the one who made the rules; the process requires you to access my memories before you can proceed to the next step."
Mochizuki Oboro said, "The verbal sparring of typical shonen manga won't work in this adventure, so please remember that."
“I knew it would be like this.” Erise wasn’t surprised. “Before we start, let me ask you this: are the procedures for the other palaces similar?”
“If they don’t change their minds halfway through, each of the seven palaces will have a different style.” Mochizuki Oboro walked down the stairs step by step, approaching the group: “As long as you have seen my memories, you will be able to pass this palace.”
②Intentional deletion service ⑺Leeks, Lushan Mountain...
Spring buds, summer rain, autumn wind, winter snow, an ordinary detached house, a park swing after school, the continuous chirping of cicadas, and the creaking of an old electric fan.
The world may seem dull and mechanical to adults, but it carries an indelible fairytale charm.
Ryougi Shiki opened her sleepy eyes, the setting sun shining on her, the sofa beneath her soft and slumped, exuding a sense of age.
She remembered that she had just been inside the palace.
Is it an illusion? Or a skill?
Neither is correct. It's his memory.
The removal of the mural was merely a prelude; the real purpose was to entangle every player in an irresistible time reversal.
Ryougi Shiki tried to pick up the water glass on the table, but failed.
A boy with black hair and gray eyes sat alone on the floor of the hall, with pieces of a jigsaw puzzle scattered around his legs. He looked to be no more than seven years old.
It was only at this moment that Ryougi Shiki realized that her own body was as illusory as a ghost, as if she were merely an observer.
The clock had already struck 6:30 p.m., and my parents should have been home from get off work by now.
His guardian is Tiamat, right? Why haven't I heard any sounds from the kitchen? And the lights aren't even on?
Previously, when viewing the murals, Ryougi Shiki only glanced at the section on adolescence and knew very little about the information regarding her childhood.
"Ding-dong—" The doorbell rang at just the right moment, providing an explanation for Ryougi Shiki.
The boy had no intention of opening the door.
Ryougi Shiki drifted gently over the wall and into the outside.
Tiamat stood outside the door, carrying a lunchbox, looking somewhat worried. Her face still held a hint of stiffness and awkwardness.
"?" Ryougi Shiki was completely confused.
……
"The screening is over." Mochizuki bowed in farewell.
There are no dramatic twists and turns in the story, no dramatic conflicts, just a bland and unremarkable dark documentary.
Seeing that no one reacted, Mochizuki Oboro coughed lightly and reminded them, "There aren't many arrangements for the first palace; it's just to let you see my memories."
“No, even if you say that, I don’t know what expression to use in response.” Krimshild avoided eye contact with Mochizuki Oboro: “There’s a subtle sense of guilt in unilaterally prying into other people’s experiences and privacy.”
“There’s no need for that. Kazuradrop is the initiator, that’s true, but if I don’t agree, I won’t show these memories to you.”
"Why do this?" Ryougi Shiki was still puzzled.
"Because I'm about to give a crazy, disgusting, and nauseating speech. It has nothing to do with the people at Tokiwadai Middle School—that's all for now."
Mochizuki Oboru snapped his fingers: "Then, tonight is over."
Chapter 262 Bavanshi is warming up
The next day, eight o'clock in the morning.
Downstairs at the Tiancheng Hotel, the assembly line of students from Finis Middle School.
"Why do you all have such dark circles under your eyes?" Karen, who had woken up naturally, raised her eyebrows. "What were you doing last night?"
One or two could be excused for staying up all night, but it's really strange when all of them are like that.
Typhon, Epsilon, Lilith, Kiyohime—each and every one of them looked listless, like cheap laborers who had just come off the night shift assembly line.
"Those who know, know; those who don't, I can't say much. In short, the interests are too deeply involved, so I'll remain anonymous." Lilith yawned.
"Where's Mochizuki?" Karen immediately knew it must be related to this guy.
The protagonist, hidden at the back of the crowd, raised his hand to signal: "Here."
"Explain yourself. What did you all do last night?" Karen crossed her arms.
"Why does the teacher think it must be related to me?"
Karen lifted her cheekbone and smiled, "Hehe."
"We went on a grand adventure on TV." Kiyohime unfolded her fan and gently blew away the lingering heat.
"Alright, alright, let's just say that's how it is. Young people always have their own little secrets." Clearly, as a boring adult, Ms. Kallen didn't take Kiyohime's words seriously.
Today is the first day of the study tour. According to the schedule, we are supposed to go to Yasogami High School for an exchange program. However, looking at the students under her tutelage, Karen feels that there is no point in taking them along.
They're so exhausted, it would be a pain to drag them there.
"Kiyohime, Caster, Erise, Typhon, Epsilon, Lilith," Karen called out one by one, "You can stay at the inn and catch up on your sleep, then come back this afternoon. Anyone else who feels sleepy can stay as well."
As the teacher in charge, Karen had quite a bit of room to maneuver. The already limited time for group activities was further reduced.
“Wang Yue, my classmate—” Karen drawled, beckoning him over. “Come here. You seem to be in good spirits; you probably don’t need to go back to the hotel to rest, right?”
"Need not."
……
The morning's exchange activities were rather unremarkable, all taking place indoors. The visits, learning, and experiences were fine in themselves, but equally unremarkable.
As Draco and his companions entered the campus, many students at Yasogami High School curiously observed the visitors from the metropolis. These peers exuded an aura that was distinct from their own, making many feel inferior simply by getting close to them.
The afternoon will be dedicated to outdoor activities. Sports competitions such as basketball and football are about to begin. Although the guiding principle is "friendship first, competition second," most people can actually predict the outcome of the games.
It was approaching noon.
Candied apples, fried noodles, takoyaki, sukiyaki... Why are these the same things even outside of Academy City?
Draco couldn't help but feel saddened by the meager choices available to him.
The vendors who originally only appeared at temple fairs and festivals set up their stalls early, and the owners seized the rare opportunity of study tours to increase their income, making the once quiet commercial street lively again.
Modern tourism? I can't say for other countries, but at least in my hometown, most scenic spots are just the same old things.
"Stinky tofu, wolf-tooth potatoes, spicy hot pot, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), pancakes, fried rice and noodles, mixed noodles and soup noodles... Actually, you can find these snacks right near your home, and they're much cheaper than in tourist areas. Ah, you probably haven't seen these things much before."
Professor Chen Gong is right.
It was already lunchtime, but Draco just couldn't muster any appetite. He'd already sampled enough of this; let's get it down to the table.
“Let’s go to Junes. At least there will be more choices there,” Abigail said.
"Okay." Draco stopped thinking. Thinking any further would only give him a headache.
In Academy City, JUNES is just a newcomer, but in Yasuiba Town, it's a long-established department store.
It was lunchtime, and the town's residents sat together in small groups, chatting about everything under the sun. There were also quite a few students from Finis Academy and Tokiwadai Middle School.
"Let's sit here," Medea said, choosing a long table.
A waiter wearing headphones around his neck greeted us warmly: "Welcome! What would you like to order? Here's the menu. You can call me when you've made your choice."
Tomato pasta, thick-cut steak, salt-baked snails, fried chicken fries, and other dishes were lined up, effectively relieving Draco's headache.
The food served in this shopping mall was probably pre-made. But considering the decent dining environment and affordable price, there's not much to complain about.
"One black pepper steak pasta, please." Mochizuki Oboro, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, naturally took a seat.
"I want to make pancakes~" Abigail clapped her hands lightly and hummed a bright and cheerful tune.
“A sun-dried fruit and vegetable sandwich, and a glass of orange juice, please,” Mary said gracefully.
The waiter nodded, noted down everyone's choices, and then turned to leave.
Mary rested her chin on her hands: "Can you tell me about last night?"
Because they went to bed early yesterday, the student council president regretfully missed the most exciting part of the episode. Abigail, Medea, and Draco did the same.
Mochizuki Oboro rested her chin on her hand: "Perfect timing. Kazuradrop's rule is that the same player cannot attack consecutively, so you can take over from the previous group."
……
The Wild Boar Princess was dragged out shopping by Bawanxi.
The energy I expended watching TV last night was terrifying. Even after sleeping until noon, there was no sign of relief; in fact, I felt even more tired the longer I slept.
Under such circumstances, Bawanshi, who was extremely disrespectful to her aunt, still said something like "walking around will make you feel more energetic," and walked out onto the street with such a listless and dispirited appearance.
She wasn't wearing the bright red dress that usually gives off a lively impression, nor was she carrying a fashionable and expensive handbag. But even in her simple school uniform, Bavanshi's domineering young lady aura was still undeniable.
In comparison, Castor really has a bit of a country bumpkin feel to him.
“Your outfit is so outdated,” Bavanshi said, pulling Castor’s hand and leading him toward June without further ado. “It’s a rare study trip, how can we not wear something that will attract attention?”
"Please let me go. I really can't go on," Castor said weakly.
Bawanshi persisted: "As long as the person can stand up, I'll pick one for you myself."
Despite having exceptionally beautiful features and a stunning figure, she never bothers to take care of herself. This waste of her natural beauty is something Bawanxi cannot tolerate.
Even if Caster is the aunt, it's useless; there's no way to stop her. This young lady only listens to her mother.
With Morgan gone, Bavansh is invincible.
To avoid being used as a clothes hanger, Castor, having exhausted all other options, had no choice but to resort to his trump card: "Want to know what I did last night?"
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